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01/17/2002 r_1 T ' BRAND TER R cE Community Development Department GRAND TERRACE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING JANUARY 17, 2002 . The regular meeting of the Grand-Terrace Planning Commission was called to. order at the Grand Terrace Civic Center, 22795 Barton Road, Grand Terrace,. California, on January 17, 2002, at 7:02 p.m., by Chairperson Fran Van Gelder. PRESENT: Fran Van Gelder, Chairperson Matthew Addington, Commissioner Mary Trainor, Commissioner Brian Whitley, Commissioner John Lampe, Associate Planner Steve Cumblidge, Assistant Planner Michelle Boustedt, CEDD Secretary ABSENT: Doug Wilson, Vice Chairperson Patrizia Materassi, CEDD Director. 7:02 P.M: CONVENE SITE AND ARCHITECTURE REVIEW BOARD/ PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING • Call to Order • Pledge of Allegiance led by Commissioner Trainor • Roll Call • Public address to Commission shall be limited to three minutes unless extended by the Chairman. Should you desire to make a longer, presentation, please make- written request to be age_ndized to. the Director of Community and Economic Development. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: NONE 22795 Barton Road• Grand Terrace, California 92313-5295 • (909) 824-6621 ITEMS: 1. MINUTES Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of December 20, 2001 RECOMMENDATION: Approval MOTION: PC-01-2002 Chair Van Gelder made a motion to approve the Planning Commission Meeting Minutes dated December 20, 2001. Commissioner Whitley seconded the motion MOTION VOTE: Approved 2-0-2-1. PC-01-2002 Commissioner Addington abstained. Commissioner Trainor abstained. Commissioner Wilson absent. Per Chairperson Van Gelder, and the request of staff, Item Number Three will be brought before the Commission before Item Number Two. 2. GPA-01-01 E-01-10 Proposal to update and revised the "Housing Element" of the General Plan of the City of Grand Terrace. APPLICANT: City of Grand Terrace — Department of Community and Economic Development. LOCATION: Citywide RECOMMENDATION: Open the public hearing on GPA-01-01 and E-01-01, hear testimony, close the Public Hearing and recommend to the City Council the approval of the Updated Housing Element of the General Plan for the period 1998-2005. Planning Associate Lampe presented the Commission with the updated Housing Element of the City's General Plan, in part of the continuing efforts of Staff to update and revise the City's General Plan. Joann Lombardo, the Housing Consultant for the City is in attendance to present the updated Housing Element to the Commission. Jerry Glander, the City's Building Official, is also present to answer any questions that the Commission may have with regard to the existing housing programs. 2 - Joann Lombardo Comprehensive Planning Services Ms. Lombardo thanked and greeted the Commission and presented her report. The Housing Element must be updated every five years according to State Law. The Regional Housing needs Assessment that comes from SCAG that was issued to the City of Grand Terrace for this planning period of 1998 to 2005 consists of 244 new housing units. The City does not need to build this amount of units, but is required to provide an opportunity for the housing units to exist; primarily through providing available sites through a re-zoning process. Of the 244 housing units, the City of Grand Terrace is required to provide 33 units as affordable to low-income households, and 39 as affordable to very low-income households. The first step that was completed to meet the new allocations was to, do an inventory of what existing housing sites are available in Grand Terrace. Staffs preliminary ,.findings were that the City could not easily meet the very low allocation. When a similar situation came up previously, the City decided to allocate some of it's housing monies and to initiate potential rezoning for senior housing mixed use in the Barton Road Specific Plan area. The State considers a density of 25 units per acre suitable for very low income. Staff chose a 3.8-acre site among some of the available sites; and proposed that this - site be eligible to be re-zoned to 20 units per acre, with a 25% density bonus so that the 25 units per acre requirement could be met. Ms. Lombardo concluded her report and asked the Commission for any questions that they may have. Chair Van Gelder asked would the City be required to subsidize the proposed site for the very low-density designation? Ms. Lombardo replied that the City would not be required to subsidize very low- income housing, nor would the City have to re-zone this site. The City would just have to look at the feasibility of re-zoning that particular site should a developer desire to build housing units. Chair Van Gelder asked how the proposed Senior Housing area would fit into the updated Housing Element? Ms. Lombardo reported that from the last update that was performed, the particular Senior Housing area was to be re-zoned, and allocated for Housing funds. This element does not propose the housing allocations funds, but rather the re-zoning of sites. There would be an opportunity for a non-profit organization'to assist the City in setting up funds for purchasing a site. 3 Commissioner Trainor asked what the size of the units would"be on an individual basis? Ms. Lombardo replied that the units would be 800-1,000 square feet. The zoning would be available to satisfy the States requirement. Chair Van Gelder asked if this updated Housing Element is approved by the Commission, would a zone change be automatically implemented? Ms. Lombardo replied that it would involve a multi-step process, in which the updated Housing Element would be turned over to the City Council for their concurrent decision. Once the City Council makes a concurrent decision with the updated Housing Element, it is then submitted to the State. The State will review and provide any modifications. Once the Element is approved and certified by the State, it is then brought back for final approval. Chair Van Gelder asked what Ms. Lombardo's estimate in figures for the low and very low-income housing requirements. Ms. Lombardo reported that the City RHNA's allocation for low-income is 33 and 39 for very low-income. The rental housing provided in the Housing Element should satisfy the required numbers. The State will review the updated Housing Element for compliance with the RHNA for the City. Chair Van Gelder asked what would happen if the requirements are not met? Ms. Lombardo replied that the updated Housing Element would not become certified by the State. She also noted that there is a proposed legislation at the State level to penalize cities which do not have certified Housing Elements. Commissioner Whitley asked within a span of 10-20 years into the future, would the State continue to assign the City additional housing allocations? Ms. Lombardo reported that it is hard to say if the requirements should stay the same. Part of the process is that the City does have a chance to give input to SCAG, and inform SCAG of how many units are available. Chair Van Gelder opened up the Public Hearing and invited the public to speak before the Commission, then closed the Public Hearing; and brought the item back to the Commission for discussion and action. MOTION: Commissioner Whitley moved to approve the Updated Housing Element as presented. Commissioner Trainor seconded the motion 4 MOTION VOTE Approved 4-0-0-1. PC-03-2002 Commissioner Wilson absent 3. SA-01-13, MD-01-04 Construct an approximately 3,000 square foot addition to an existing office building, and a minor deviation request for a reduction in parking in the Village Commercial district of the Barton Road Specific Plan. APPLICANT: Robert Keeney LOCATION: 12139 Mt. Vernon Avenue, Grand Terrace RECOMMENDATION: Open the Public Hearing, receive testimony, close the Public Hearing, and approve SA-01-13 and MD-01-04 subject to conditions. Assistant Planner Cumblidge reported key points of the Staff Report. Staff has determined that the project is categorically exempt from Environmental Review per Section 15301e2 of the California Environmental Quality Act. The building is located in the Village Commercial district of the Barton Road Specific Plan with a General Plan Designation of General Commercial. The Village Commercial District of the Barton Road Specific Plan permits a wide variety of office related uses. The existing 9,200 square foot office building was built in 1971. The office market in Grand Terrace has become tight. Therefore, the Applicant is proposing to add approximately 3,000 square feet of additional office space to this building, as well as to remodel the exterior, parking lot, and landscaping for an overall updated appearance. In addition, the Applicant has proposed to match the style of the existing building, except that the mansard roof system will not be extended. The building will be repainted and the wood shake will be replaced with concrete tile. Planning Assistant Cumblid.ge displayed a material palette to the Commission for their review. The required parking for the expanded office building would amount to 62 parking stalls. The submitted site plan has admitted 48 parking stalls, which is 22% fewer than what is otherwise required. The development director has the ability to approve a deviation within 20% administrative reduction in the parking. Planning Assistant Cumblidge has personally observed that utilization of the parking lot with the existing tenant mix has appeared very light. However, there will be a condition of approval to revise the site plan to provide 50 parking stalls. i 5 If an overall updated appearance of the project will be approved, Staff has also included as a condition of approval that the existing non-conforming pole sign should be replaced with a ground mounted sign. The Applicant is also applying for funds through the City's Building Improvement Grant Program, "KEEP" for assistance in the landscape and parking lot improvements. The specific designs in the construction plan check drawings will be reviewed by management staff for the funding priority relative to other proposals that the City is currently receiving and working with. To date, this is the most complete request package for the grant program. Building and Safety has issued comments with the application. However, we have not received comments from the Fire Department. Staff does anticipate that comments.from the Fire Department will be standard in nature and will be dealt with through the plan check process. The Applicant shall comply with the conditions of approval from the Building and Safety/Public Works Department and the San Bernardino County Fire Department through the plan check process. Planning Assistant Cumblidge concluded his report. Chair Van Gelder asked how many parking stalls are currently in existence? Planning Assistant Cumblidge replied that he was unaware of how many parking stalls there were at present. Chair Van Gelder asked how many additional people would be employed in the proposed area? Planning Assistant replied that if a standard of one space per 200 square feet were applied, it would average out to 15 additional parking spaces. Chair Van Gelder expressed her concern for the lack of parking spaces available within the City. Robert Keeney 12139 South Mt. Vernon Mr. Keeney complimented Assistant Planner Cumblidge and felt that he didn't have anything further to add to the report. Chair Van Gelder asked Mr. Keeney how many new employees does he anticipate occupying the parking spaces? 6 Mr. Keeney replied that he had no estimation. The existing parking configuration is 9,000 feet. Most of the time, the parking lot is 25-30% full, but never more than 50% full. Mr. Keeney felt that more landscaping and less pavement would improve the site's appearance. Chair Van Gelder opened and closed the Public Hearing, and brought the item-back to the Commission for discussion and action. Commissioner Addington commented that he had reviewed the submitted plans and felt that there would be no issues with regard to ample parking for the new addition. Commissioner Trainor expressed her gratitude to the applicant for the gesture of increased landscaping for the site. Commissioner Whitley concurred that if the current tenant mix is currently utilizing 25-30% of the parking lot, the additional space as proposed should not serve as a problem. MOTION PC-02-2002: Commissioner Trainor made a motion to approve SA-01- 13 subject to the six conditions as presented. Commissioner Addington seconded the motion. MOTION VOTE PC-02-2002: Approved 4-0-0-1. Commissioner Wilson absent. 7:35 P.M. ADJOURN SITE AND ARCHITECTURE REVIEW BOARD/PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING CONVENE PUBLIC WORKSHOP SESSION • Information from Commissioners Commissioner Addington wanted to know what type of use La Mesa RV was going to be? Associate Planner Lampe replied that it would be a similar type of RV dealership such as the dealership that is currently located in Colton just off of Washington. The City is currently working with the potential business owners on a 12.5-acre parcel near Commerce Way. Commissioner Trainor wanted an update with regard to the three corners on Mt. Vernon and Barton Road. 7 Associate Planner Lampe reported that Mr. Clemens the landowner of the former Rite Aid site is currently in the process of finding another tenant. The La Mancha building, which housed the Blue Mountain Coffee Shop, has been completely repainted. Blue Mountain Real Estate, as well as a computer store has opened their businesses in the building. Chuck Eads is looking to find more tenants for the building. G&M Oil Company has completed demolition of the old gas station and will proceed with the new gas station. Information to Commissioners Associate Planner Lampe reported that the application for a seminary adjacent to Christ The Redeemer Church might be on the February meeting agenda. ADJOURN PUBLIC WORKSHOP SESSION AT 7:46 PM NEXT PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING TO BE HELD ON FEBRUARY 21, 2002 Respectfully Submitted, Approved By, (Jglin Lampe, Associate Planner Fran Van Gelder, Chairperson or Patrizia Materassi I Planning Commission Community and Economic Development 8